Nolan Finley: Biden lost more than the debate to a predictable Trump

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The energetic, focused Joe Biden who showed up at the State of the Union address in March to push back against depictions of him as a doddering old man was not the Joe Biden who walked on to the debate stage in Atlanta Thursday night hoping to again reassure voters he has the acuity and endurance to serve four more years as president.

Instead, what Americans saw was a weak and struggling old man.

Biden, who spent a full week prepping for the face-off, could barely raise his voice above a raspy whisper, a sharp contrast to the high-volume anger he brought to the March address.

His strategy was to attack former President Donald Trump nonstop, but he lacked the vigor and vehemence to pull it off. He could barely muster an effective sneer, and too often, the camera caught him with his mouth hanging open. He was not nimble enough to pivot from the talking points that had been drilled into his head to exploit the many opportunities Trump gave him to deliver a haymaker.

Given the chance to present his vision on the critical issues that will decide this election and reassure the country that he is still in command, Biden fumbled and mumbled through repeated rehearsed insults and accusations aimed at his opponent.

Had anyone but Trump been next to him on the Atlanta stage, this reelection campaign would be over for Biden. Democrats would be scrambling to find a replacement before they get to their August convention in Chicago. But Trump was Trump. He was no more prepared for this debate than he was four years ago when he met Biden for the first face-off of the 2020 election and got pummelled. He was lucky Biden was in no shape to pummel anyone.

When he had a chance to defend his record on issues such as immigration and the economy, Trump defaulted to his usual hyperbole and egomania. Think along the lines of, “When I pass gas, everyone says it’s the greatest thing they’ve ever smelled.” It was that absurd.

Trump could have scored with solid facts about his accomplishments and Biden’s failures; instead, he rambled. He missed the opportunity to look more presidential than the feeble incumbent.

The nation was failed by this debacle. There were so many distortions and outright lies coming from that stage fact-checkers might as well give five pinocchios to the entire performance. It was unquestionably the worst debate in presidential history. It was a long night of “I’m the best, he’s the worst” “No he’s the worst, I’m the best” and little else.

In typical geezer fashion, they even sparred over their golf handicap. That must have the Russians shaking in their boots.

The entire 90 minutes were spent convincing voters that these two men are unfit for office. It worked.

It’s no wonder 25% of Americans say they won’t vote for either one and three-quarters wished they had another choice.

But everyone knew who Trump was coming into the debate. He didn’t disappoint. The big question was whether Biden could rise to the moment. He didn’t. To steal a phrase Biden used incessantly, “the idea” that Joe Biden can do this very hard job for another four years is preposterous.

Trump didn’t win the debate, but Biden lost it.

Nolan Finley writes a column for the Detroit News.

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Thomas Friedman: Joe Biden is a good man and good president. He must bow out of the race.

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I watched the Biden-Trump debate alone in a Lisbon, Portugal, hotel room, and it made me weep. I cannot remember a more heartbreaking moment in American presidential campaign politics in my lifetime, precisely because of what it revealed: Joe Biden, a good man and a good president, has no business running for reelection. And Donald Trump, a malicious man and a petty president, has learned nothing and forgotten nothing. He is the same firehose of lies he always was, obsessed with his grievances — nowhere close to what it will take for America to lead in the 21st century.

The Biden family and political team must gather quickly and have the hardest of conversations with the president, a conversation of love and clarity and resolve. To give America the greatest shot possible of deterring the Trump threat in November, the president has to come forward and declare that he will not be running for reelection and is releasing all of his delegates for the Democratic National Convention.

The Republican Party — if its leaders had an ounce of integrity — would demand the same, but it won’t, because they don’t. That makes it all the more important that Democrats put the country’s interests first and announce that a public process will begin for different Democratic candidates to compete for the nomination — town halls, debates, meetings with donors, you name it. Yes, it could be chaotic and messy when the Democratic convention starts on Aug. 19 in Chicago, but I think the Trump threat is sufficiently grave that delegates could quickly rally around and nominate a consensus candidate.

If Vice President Kamala Harris wants to compete, she should. But voters deserve an open process in search of a Democratic presidential nominee who can unite not only the party but also the country, by offering something neither man on that Atlanta stage did Thursday night: a compelling description of where the world is right now and a compelling vision for what America can and must do to keep leading it — morally, economically and diplomatically.

Because this is no ordinary hinge of history we are at. We are at the start of the biggest technological disruptions and the biggest climate disruption in human history. We are at the dawn of an artificial intelligence revolution that is going to change EVERYTHING FOR EVERYONE — how we work, how we learn, how we teach, how we trade, how we invent, how we collaborate, how we fight wars, how we commit crimes and how we fight crimes. Maybe I missed it, but I did not hear the phrase “artificial intelligence” mentioned by either man at the debate.

If there was ever a time that the world needs an America at its best, led by its best, it is now — for great dangers and opportunities are now upon us. A younger Joe Biden could have been that leader, but time has finally caught up with him. And that was painfully and inescapably obvious Thursday.

Biden has been a friend of mine since we traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan together after 9/11, when he chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, so I say all of the above with great sadness.

But if he caps his presidency now, by acknowledging that because of age he is not up to a second term, his first and only term will be remembered as among the better presidencies in our history. He saved us from a second Trump term and for that alone he deserves the Presidential Medal of Freedom, but he also enacted important legislation crucial to confronting the climate and technology revolutions now upon us.

I had been ready to give Biden the benefit of the doubt up to now, because during the times I engaged with him one on one, I found him up to the job. He clearly is not any longer. His family and his staff had to have known that. They have been holed up at Camp David preparing for this momentous debate for days now. If that is the best performance they could summon from him, it’s time for him to keep the dignity he deserves and leave the stage at the end of this term.

If he does, everyday Americans will hail Joe Biden for doing what Donald Trump would never do — put the country before himself.

If he insists on running and he loses to Trump, Biden and his family — and his staff and party members who enabled him — will not be able to show their faces.

They deserve better. America needs better. The world needs better.

Thomas Friedman writes a column for the New York Times.

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Opinion: NYC’s Budget Must Include Immigrants for the Success of Our City

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“With legal services to obtain work authorizations, language access so they can navigate our government bureaucracy, childcare so they can go to work, and education so their kids can get on the pathway to future success, immigrant families will be able to contribute even more to our city.”

Jeff Reed/NYC Council

Advocates and elected officials at a rally for immigrant New Yorkers in 2018.

CityViews are readers’ opinions, not those of City Limits. Add your voice today!

It’s been almost two years since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott started sending asylum seekers on buses to New York City. Since that time, New York has welcomed and integrated thousands of new arrivals—people seeking safety and opportunity, ready and willing to work.

It’s not easy to adjust to a new city, especially when Mayor Eric Adams continues to scapegoat immigrants for ills that they had no hand in creating. He even went so far as to claim that recent immigrants will “destroy our city.” That statement has not—and will not—become our reality. We know from previous generations that our newest neighbors have so much to offer to revitalize New York’s economy and culture.

Think about the massive economic contributions that immigrants already make here. Almost a third of all businesses in New York are owned by immigrants. Can anyone imagine a New York City without our rich culture of bodegas and neighborhood restaurants? With nearly 3 million immigrants in our workforce, immigrant New Yorkers contribute over $68 billion in taxes— which help pay for our schools, hospitals and roadways—and have a spending power of over $153 billion. 

Now, think about how we can support immigrant New Yorkers to multiply these contributions. With legal services to obtain work authorizations, language access so they can navigate our government bureaucracy, childcare so they can go to work, and education so their kids can get on the pathway to future success, immigrant families will be able to contribute even more to our city.

Navigating our country’s immigration system is complicated. Without access to a lawyer, it can be a near-impossible task for newcomers to apply for asylum and Temporary Protective Status and receive their work authorizations. An unprecedented half of all New York City immigration cases had no legal representation in 2022 and 2023. By investing $109 million in immigration legal services, recent arrivals can begin working the jobs that our city desperately needs filled and longtime New Yorkers can get the help they need to manage immigration status changes or other issues. With over 150,000 people moving out of the five boroughs and the State Department of Labor identifying nearly 50,000 jobs available specifically to asylum seekers, it is clear this investment would be a huge benefit to New York. 

All families need a safe place to leave their kids while they work. The Promise NYC program has been successful in providing childcare for immigrant New Yorkers, but there is more work to be done to expand its reach. For instance, we’ve heard from some families that selling candy in the subways is their only feasible option because they need to watch their kids while they’re working. By investing $25 million in Promise NYC, we can ensure that more families have a safe and affordable place for their young children to go while their parents work. For school-age kids, investing $800,000 for the First Step and Project Soaring programs to support English Language Learners will mean the difference between thriving at school, or fumbling through classes not catered to their needs.

Many of the programs New York City has in place to support low-income New Yorkers are inaccessible to people who speak little or no English. We have already seen amazing success in the city’s recent investments in language access, in which expert community translators who speak a range of Latin America, Asian and African languages are able to help make sure all New Yorkers can receive information from city agencies. We must invest $5 million in language access to continue this vital work and ensure that government services and information continue to be accessible to all New Yorkers.

New York City must build an infrastructure for the success of all families, no matter how long they’ve been here or how much money they make. If the city makes investments now, all New Yorkers will have the basic building blocks they need to begin contributing to our city’s economy. Immigrants have long been the defining characteristic of New York City—tourists come here to experience cultures from around the world and sample the restaurants, theater, and concerts that have been shaped by the contributions of immigrant New Yorkers. 

We call on the mayor and New York City Council to recognize this fact by investing in the future success of our city and our immigrant neighbors. As our elected leaders hash out next year’s budget with the mayor, the City Council must continue to fight for a New York where all families can thrive.

Murad Awawdeh is the president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition.

Defensores de alfabetización de adultos piden que se reviertan recortes presupuestales, mientras proveedores ven aumento en demanda

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Días antes de que se conozca el presupuesto definitivo de la ciudad de Nueva York para el próximo año fiscal, tanto los defensores como los concejales están instando a que se mantengan los fondos para alcanzar un número similar de estudiantes atendidos en el año fiscal que está a punto de terminar el 1 de julio.

John McCarten/NYC Council

Una clase de educación para adultos del Chinese-American Planning Council, Inc. en 2018.

Este artículo se publicó originalmente en inglés el 27 de junio. Traducido por Daniel Parra. Read the English version here.

Para los neoyorquinos mayores de 16 años que no están matriculados en la escuela y que no pueden hablar, leer y/o escribir en inglés como para participar en un programa de educación o formación en lengua inglesa, las clases de alfabetización para adultos son una opción clave.

Los estudiantes que participaron en los programas de alfabetización de adultos del Chinese-American Planning Council compartieron en una encuesta que sus vidas cambiaron después de estas clases. “Claro que mejoró mi vida”, dice una de las respuestas compartida con City Limits de una encuesta interna a estudiantes que completaron recientemente el programa en la organización.

“Ahora puedo escribir un poco en inglés, leer, o salir a la calle y ver palabras, saber qué dicen cuando alguien habla y poder entender un poco. Yo sentía que salía a ciegas o sorda”, dijo la persona encuestada. Ahora, “es como ya no salir a ciegas y sorda”, añadió.

Por años, el Departamento de Juventud y Desarrollo Comunitario (DYCD por sus siglas en inglés) de la ciudad ha trabajado con organizaciones comunitarias para desarrollar un sistema de alfabetización de adultos que imparte clases de lectura, escritura, inglés y matemáticas.  

Ahora, apenas unos días antes de que se presente el presupuesto definitivo de la ciudad de Nueva York para el próximo año fiscal, tanto defensores como concejales instan a que se mantengan los fondos para llegar a un número similar de estudiantes atendidos el próximo año fiscal.

La ciudad presupuestó $16.8 millones de dólares para que el DYCD licitara programas de alfabetización de adultos a través de requests for proposals (convocatoria de propuestas o RFP por sus siglas en inglés) durante este año fiscal de 2024. El próximo año fiscal tiene presupuestado $11.8 millones de dólares para estos programas, una reducción de $6 millones de dólares respecto a años anteriores, o un recorte de casi el 30 por ciento.

“Los programas ya sólo atienden a una fracción muy pequeña de los estudiantes que necesitan conocimientos de alfabetización de adultos”, dijo Carlyn Cowen, jefa de política y asuntos públicos del Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC por sus siglas en inglés).

“Hay 2.2 millones de adultos con conocimientos limitados de inglés o que no tienen un diploma de secundaria. El año pasado, el DYCD sólo pudo atender a un 1 por ciento de estos adultos”, añadió Cowen. “Con un porcentaje tan bajo de necesidades atendidas, con programas ya críticamente subfinanciados, es difícil entender cómo el DYCD y la ciudad son capaces de hacer recortes tan draconianos a programas comunitarios esenciales”.

Además de contar con menos fondos, la ciudad aceptó cambiar el precio por participante (PPP por sus siglas en inglés) a estos programas de $900 a $1.300 dólares por estudiante al año, lo que a su vez reduciría el número de estudiantes que pueden participar.

La New York City Coalition for Adult Literacy (Coalición de Nueva York para la Alfabetización de Adultos o NYCCAL por sus siglas en inglés) prevé atender a unos 17.722 estudiantes este año. Con la posible reducción del presupuesto, y teniendo en cuenta el nuevo PPP, esperan llegar a sólo 9.118 estudiantes el año fiscal que viene, lo que supone una reducción del 48.5 por ciento.

Este recorte se produciría en un momento en que las organizaciones que proveen estos programas han visto aumentar la demanda por estas clases, ya que en los dos últimos años han llegado a la ciudad más de 200.000 inmigrantes y solicitantes de asilo, miles de ellos permanecen en el sistema de refugios.

“Esto llega en un momento en que la lista de espera y la demanda por programas de alfabetización de adultos ha aumentado significativamente en toda la ciudad”, dijo Cowen, y añadió que hay cientos de personas en lista de espera para estas clases, y muchas de ellas han llegado recientemente a la ciudad.

Para cubrir una población similar a la que las organizaciones de base comunitaria (CBO por sus siglas en inglés) atendieron este año, NYCCAL está pidiendo $11 millones de dólares adicionales: $6 millones para cubrir lo que se había asignado anteriormente y $5 millones para llegar a un número similar de estudiantes con la nueva tarifa por estudiante que entrará en vigor en el año fiscal 2025.

“La alfabetización de adultos es un programa fundamental para los inmigrantes de nuestra ciudad. No se puede encontrar trabajo, vivienda, educación, atención medica –y la lista continúa–, si no se puede llenar, leer o acceder a los documentos necesarios”, dijo la concejal Alexa Avilés, presidenta del comité de inmigración de la ciudad. El Concejo, por su parte, está solicitando $10 millones de dólares adicionales para los programas del DYCD.

Credit: Gerardo Romo / NYC Council Media Unit

La concejal Alexa Avilés, presidenta del comité de inmigración, en una audiencia preliminar sobre el presupuesto de DYCD en marzo.

“$10 millones de dólares es una gota de agua en el mar, y nunca ha sido cuestión de si tenemos el dinero. Lo tenemos y algo más. Depende enteramente del alcalde Adams y de su administración reconocer que la alfabetización es un salvavidas para los neoyorquinos recién llegados, y debe ser una prioridad para esta ciudad”, dijo Avilés.

El DYCD dijo que la ciudad está trabajando estrechamente con el Concejo para apoyar las prioridades de ambas partes y tendrá más que decir pronto, añadiendo que si se proporciona financiación adicional, aumentarán el número de plazas.

“La administración Adams se ha comprometido a llevar la equidad a todos los neoyorquinos, razón por la cual el DYCD desarrolló una nueva fórmula con un RFP que incorporó las tasas de pobreza y amplió los programas de educación básica para adultos recientemente a comunidades como East Harlem, Concourse Village y Soundview”, dijo el Comisionado de DYCD Keith Howard en un comunicado. 

“El DYCD sigue asegurándose de que las comunidades que antes carecían de programas de alfabetización están recibiendo los servicios que necesitan, y nuestra administración está trabajando con el Concejo para apoyar nuestras prioridades mutuas en el presupuesto aprobado”.

Si bien las organizaciones afirman que la reformulación del RFP parece buena en el papel —ya que utiliza datos de la Encuesta sobre la Comunidad Estadounidense de 2020 para identificar las zonas con mayores índices de pobreza, menor nivel educativo y dominio limitado del inglés, que se denominan Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (áreas de tabulación de barrios)—, en la práctica, la realidad es más complicada.

Según NYCCAL, muchas áreas de tabulación de barrios (NTA por sus siglas en inglés) no cuentan con ningún programa de alfabetización financiado por el DYCD, y aunque las organizaciones pueden licitar sin están fuera de estas áreas, temen que sólo se les tenga en cuenta si no hay propuestas viables de programas dentro de la zona. 

“Si bien la solicitud de propuestas se modificó tras una gran protesta para permitir que las organizaciones comunitarias fuera del NTA pudieran presentar solicitudes, también se estableció dar prioridad a las organizaciones dentro del NTA, creando barreras de facto para las organizaciones que llevan décadas haciendo este trabajo en las comunidades”, dijo Cowen.

El DYCD ha estado notificando a las organizaciones desde el viernes sobre si ganaron fondos bajo la nueva convocatoria, pero no especificó cuántos programas se espera que operen en el año fiscal y cómo se compara con años anteriores, diciendo que el número de programas estará disponible después de que todos las asignaciones se finalicen. 

“La reciente RFP ha sido difícil para los proveedores”, escribió por correo electrónico J.T. Falcone, director de comunicaciones de United Neighborhood Houses. “Algunas adjudicaciones se han hecho en este punto, pero la falta de comunicación clara del DYCD ha creado un ambiente desestabilizador donde los contratos están listos para terminar a finales de mes, pero no sabemos dónde estarán los nuevos en el futuro”.

Los proveedores de programas que hablaron con City Limits temen que, entre los recortes presupuestarios y la nueva fórmula de adjudicación de contratos, el sistema de programas de alfabetización de adultos de la ciudad sufra una reestructuración a varios niveles que, en última instancia, afectará a quienes necesitan estas clases. 

“Prevemos que algunos proveedores a los que no se adjudiquen nuevos contratos tendrán que efectuar despidos, pero aún no tenemos una orientación clara de la alcaldía sobre cómo gestionarlos, lo que ha resultado difícil”, añadió Falcone.

Para ponerse en contacto con el reportero de esta noticia, escriba a Daniel@citylimits.org. Para ponerse en contacto con la editora, escriba a Jeanmarie@citylimits.org.